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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: July 15, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Gabriel Elliott, Director of Community Development & Housing Department: Community Development & Housing
Subject: Amendment No. 2 to the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) Vendor Services
Agreement for the Mobile Shower and Laundry Services
Program
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California approve Amendment No. 2 to the Vendor Services Agreement (VSA) with the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) for a term extension to December 31, 2026 to continue the Mobile Shower and Laundry Services Program.
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager recommends approval of Amendment No. 2.
Executive Summary
The City currently contracts with Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) to provide mobile shower and laundry services for individuals who lack housing and access to running water. These services are funded through a $150,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund allocation approved by the Mayor and City Council on May 17, 2023.
Item Amount
Original ARPA Allocation $150,000
Expended $99,651.14
Remaining $50,348.86
Percent Expended 66.4%
Percent Remaining 33.6%
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The agreement with CAPSBC expired on May 31, 2025, and $50,348.86 of the original ARPA allocation remains unspent. Amendment No. 2 extends the term of the agreement through December 31, 2026, which will allow the services to continue and the remaining funds to be expended by the ARPA expenditure deadline. At their current expenditure rate, the City estimates that the remaining funds will be fully spent by December 31, 2026.
These actions reflect the City’s ongoing efforts to utilize ARPA funding to expand homelessness response services and support programs that improve health, hygiene, and stability for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Background
CAPSBC is the main contributor of mobile shower services in the City and oversees several mobile shower operations. CAPSBC, which is a brick-and-mortar, non-profit organization based in the City of San Bernardino, provides a wide array of resources to low-income individuals and families. In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CAPSBC expanded operations to include mobile shower and laundry services for the unhoused, providing hope and dignity.
During the Homeless Workshop held on October 27, 2022, the Council agreed there was a need to expand mobile shower services to unhoused individuals in the City to improve public health and hygiene for those experiencing homelessness. On May 17, 2023, the Council approved the use of $150,000 in ARPA funds to expand the City’s mobile shower services, which will help to remove barriers for individuals who lack housing and access to running water. To date Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County has expended $99,651.14 and has a remaining balance of $50,348.86. This amendment is to extend the contract term to ensure continuity of mobile shower and laundry services to December 2026. There will be no additional ARPA funding aside from the remaining balance.
On February 1, 2023, the Mayor and City Council unanimously voted to adopt Resolution No.2023-028, declaring the Homelessness State of Emergency in response to a growing local, regional, and statewide homelessness crisis. The Resolution authorizes the City Manager or designee the authority to apply for and enter into Agreements for grant funding and to take all necessary actions to obtain emergency assistance from State and Federal agencies.
On September 4, 2024, the Mayor and the City Council adopted Resolution 2024-201, reaffirming the declaration of a Homelessness State of Emergency. This act restated the City Manager’s powers, allowing the ability to enter into contracts, pursue grants, and obtain emergency funding from federal, state, and local entities to address homelessness.
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Discussion
Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC), on the City’s behalf, currently operates a Mobile Shower Program from a 28-foot mobile shower unit to address public health and safety concerns, and to provide unhoused individuals with a sense of hope and renewed self-esteem. The mobile shower unit comes equipped with three (3) full-service restrooms (shower, sink, and toilet), which includes an ADA compliant restroom.
The trailer also has an adjacent laundry area that contains two (2) washers and two (2) dryers allowing unhoused residents the ability to wash their clothing. There is an onboard water tank that can easily be re-filled by a faucet or garden hose connection.
The mobile shower unit can relocate as needed to different areas of the City as long as there is a connection to a water system. A vacuum truck, operated by trained, non- city staff (not volunteers), is used to empty the trailer.
The mobile shower unit is powered by a generator and shower times are limited to 15 minutes. Depending on the number of showers in a 4-hour period, the unit will use up to 50-100 gallons of water. This estimate does not include running the laundry utilities, which could add 10-30 additional gallons. CAPSBC employs 2 paid staff and works with different organizations to incorporate volunteers who will help hand out hygiene kits and, when possible, new clothing items donated by local businesses.
CAPSBC operates the mobile shower at a minimum of six (6) times per week. Each shower event will last approximately six (6) hours with one (1) hour for setup, four (4) hours for showers, and one (1) hour for cleanup.
Each guest receives clean towels, soap/shampoo, and if available clean undergarments and/or clothes. Each restroom is sanitized in between clients. It takes approximately eight (8) minutes to sanitize each restroom. Roughly thirty-six (36) clients are served at each event using all three (3) restrooms. It is estimated that 3,600 clients are served over a one-year period.
CAPSBC partners with four (4) local community-based organizations (CBO’s) within the City of San Bernardino through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Agreement which allows CAPSBC the ability to setup its mobile shower unit on CBO’s property and accessing water. CAPSBC markets the mobile showers on their company website and creates flyers that are dispersed to different organizations that serve the homeless community. CBO’s also help to spread the word through their company websites.
Amendment No. 2 is to extend the contract term to December 31, 2026 to ensure continuity of mobile shower and laundry services and meet ARPA expenditure deadlines. There will be no additional costs or changes in services.
During the contract term CAPSBC has provided 2,382 Mobile Shower and Laundry services during the 476 mobile events held within the City of San Bernardino. 3 3
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Additionally, CAPSBC provided resources like hygiene kits and food bags, with a combined total of 3,552 resources.
To date, CAPSBC has expended $99,651.14 of the allocated $150,000 and has a remaining balance of $50,348.86. After the ARPA allocation has been fully spent CAPSBC will receive funding through the Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) grant to address public health and safety concerns for unhoused individuals in the 5.2 mile radius of the Waterman Corridor.
Strategic Targets and Goals
The request to approve the Vendor Service Agreement aligns with Strategic Target No. 3: Improved Quality of Life. The project expands accessibility to showers through a mobile shower program that improves quality of life for unhoused residents and improves public health and hygiene, especially since unhoused residents typically lack access to running water.
Fiscal Impact
There is no General Fund impact. All activities are fully funded through the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds. This project was allocated $150,000 from ARPA grant funds, with $99,651.14 having been expensed to date. There is a remaining balance of $50,348.86.
Description Amount
Original ARPA Allocation $150,000
Expended $99,651.14
Remaining $50,348.86
Additional General Fund $0
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California approve amendment No. 2 to the Vendor Services Agreement (VSA) with Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) for a term extension to December 31, 2026 to continue the Mobile Shower Program.
Attachments
1. Attachment 1 - CAPSBC Mobile Shower Agreement
2. Attachment 2 - CAPSBC Amendment No. 1 to Mobile Shower Agreement
3. Attachment 3 - CAPSBC Amendment No. 2 to Mobile Shower Agreement
4. Attachment 4 – CAPSBC Mobile Showers
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5. Attachment 5 – CAPSBC Mobile Truck
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
August 4, 2021 - Mayor and City Council received a report and discussed the allocation of ARPA funds.
December 7, 2022 - Mayor and City Council approved a Homelessness Solutions Action Plan.
December 7, 2022 - Mayor and City Council authorized the use of $24,500,000 in ARPA funds for the development of a Navigation Center, State of California Homekey Round 3 Projects, Homeless/Street Outreach and $150,000 towards Mobile Shower Expansion.
February 1, 2023 - Mayor and City Council declare a Homelessness State of Emergency.
May 17, 2023 - Mayor and City Council approved Vendor Services Agreement with Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County for Mobile Shower Services.
May 15, 2024 - Mayor and City Council approved Amendment No. 1 to the Vendor Services agreement with Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County for Mobile Shower Services.
CC
Eric Levitt, City Manager